Relocating to PA-Not sure which areas are good (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh: for sale by owner, real estate)

[fllover]

We're looking to relocate to PA (were initially looking at Lancaster until we heard all about the "bad things" going on there). We're looking at Hershey and Stroudsburg but aren't 100% sold yet. Originally from NY and have visited different parts of PA but last time we were there was 6 years ago (things change). Looking for a nice family-oriented area with good schools and fair housing prices. Thanks for any advice given!!!

[JHanksJGR]

Gettysburg is a great area

[summergal]

What about Pittsburgh?

[lititzman2003]

Vegas Grl, what "bad things" do you hear? Please let me know so I can clarify the incidents for you. Trust me, I can be very objective. Thanks.

[jackooboy]

Yeah, it seems there are a lot of Lancaster haters on this board. If you enjoy suburbia with a little bit of open space, Lancaster is pretty much ideal.

[Ava Cado]

I think ya'll might be talking about 2 different things: Lancaster county (very nice place to live) versus Lancaster the town (congested, some not-so-nice areas). ;-)

[ScranBarre]

Vegas girl, we need a bit more input as to what you "like" and "dislike" about an area in order to help you out the best that we can. ;o) You mentioned Stroudsburg, which is only 45 minutes from my hometown of Scranton, so I'll start there. The town of Stroudsburg is very charming, with a tree-lined Main Street dotted with cafes and mom-and-pop shops. However, the surrounding county of Monroe is the fastest-growing in PA, and the results can be seen daily in the way of massive deforestation for new homes for people from NY/NJ. If you can deal with sprawl, then Stroudsburg is an EXCEPTIONAL place to call home. The public school system in much of Monroe County is outstanding (Pocono Mountain is a bit sketchy). The hustle and bustle of NYC and Philly are each only about 90 minutes away, which means you can easily commute to either urban center for work while coming home to tranquility (Besides the traffic jams).

I don't want to seem a bit biased here, but you should really consider the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area as a place to settle down. We have a great mix of housing options from downtown apartments to McMansions in the 'burbs, and our shopping options range from mom-and-pop specialty stores to a soon-to-be completed NYC-style mall. There is also a new commuter rail line between Scranton and NYC under construction, so this area's real estate values are going to BOOM once people realize they can have low crime, great schools, (moderate traffic), and can get much more for their money than they could just an hour east. $100,000 can still buy you a very nice home in our area, while that same price even as near as Stroudsburg now would get you a shanty. My only request is that if you consider coming to Northeastern Pennsylvania that you PLEASE consider existing homes FIRST before tearing down more acres for another McMansion. We have so many of them here now on our hillsides that flooding concerns are becoming an annual occurrence. Good luck House Hunting!!!

[dontmovetova]

Stroudsburg is worse then Lancaster. There are worse gangs in Stroudsburg then Lancaster. I used to live in Lancaster 6 years ago. It was nice then but to many walks of life there now.

[dukewm]

Hi vegas girl,

If you are relocating to PA and have considered Lancaster County, you should NOT worry about "bad things" (whatever it was you heard about). Actually Lancaster County is a pretty decent place to live and/or raise a family and has a much LOWER cost of living than nearby Chester County and suburban Philadelphia. Lancaster City is a small city that's easily traversed and has a good job market. East of Lancaster City is a thriving tourist area, while the surrounding countryside in other directions is rural.

County school ratings I have heard from several sources are:
1. Hempfield - northwest side
2. Manheim - north side
3. Lampeter-Strasburg - southeast side
ALL are fairly close to the city. City schools should be avoided.

Lancaster City is LESS than 1 1/2 hrs from either Philadelphia OR Baltimore.

Contrary to what you may have read on this forum, the people I have encountered have ALL been very friendly and helpful. It's easy to start a conversation with a stranger if you'd like.

As far as house-hunting goes, I just happen to have a completely restored 1887 Victorian 2 story in the very quaint Historic District of Strasburg. You can check it out at For Sale By Owner, homes for sale, houses, real estate, for sale. In the "Buy a House" section, just type in the Listing ID (20951438) and click the "GO" button, then view the slideshow.

Strasburg is only 7 miles from Lancaster City and convenient to all the shopping amenities along US 30. The Borough is as close to "crime-free" as you'll find anywhere.

If you have further interest, I can be reached at 610 738-4501 or drop me an email at rturner@thecastlegate.com and I'll be glad to send you the Listing Data Sheet and "A Brief History" of the propertry dating to 1874.

[CaptainObvious]

As others state, you need a little clarification about what you're looking for. But, most people from the Lancaster suburbs say they are "from Lancaster"...that happens with most towns...heck, I know people from 45 minutes outside of Pittsburgh that say they are "from Pittsburgh". So, you need to investigate the claims about "bad things going on in Lancaster". Lancaster city, maybe. 5 minutes north of Lancaster couldn't be misconstrued by anybody in their right mind as a "bad area". There are literally dozens of places in the Lancaster area that don't even begin to approach "bad"...in fact, Lancaster county in general is one of the nicest places I've ever been (and lived- used to live in East Lampeter right behind Dutch Wonderland )

Heading up Fruitville Pike or Litiz Pike it would be hard to find a "not nice" area. Out west of town toward Centreville there are great areas too. Out in East Lampeter, except for the tourist trap that is the outlets, is a little more run-down, but one can find very nice neighborhoods there too. In fact, there are some perfectly nice areas downtown too- The area near Ross St. in the northeast corner of the city has some old Victorian homes- many that have been remodled- that New Yorker's would pay $1M to live in!

Captain